A charming international collection of various styles and storytelling techniques. None of these nominated shorts run longer than 12 minutes and each is dialogue free, instead making memorable use of music and sound effects. They're all kid friendly, but clever enough for adults, and overall make up a stronger group of nominees than this year's Best Picture contenders.
The program opens in select cities beginning Feb. 6. Check here for a list of theaters and release dates. All films will also be available for download on iTunes beginning Feb. 17.
2009 Oscar nominated animated short films reviews
By Geoff Berkshire
MetromixFebruary 5, 2009
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'Lavatory – Lovestory' review
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A simple style suits this story of a lonely lavatory attendant who dreams of romance. Mostly black and white, color enters the world in the perfect way. It's no insult to call the latest work from veteran animator Konstantin Bronzit cute. It is, in the best way. (10 minutes, Russia)
'Presto' review
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The one nominated short that's already found a wide audience, "Presto"—about a magician's rabbit who turns the table on his master—was the short Pixar attached to "WALL-E." It's the slickest and the loudest of the nominees, making its presence here a bit jarring. But it makes able use of frantic Looney Toons-style slapstick to crowd-pleasing results. (5 minutes, USA)
'This Way Up' review
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The best of the bunch is a computer animated effort from the British team Smith & Foulkes. Two mortuary employees go to great lengths to transport a body after their hearse is destroyed. It's darkly comic and visually playful, and a natural for fans of the Tim Burton school of animation. (9 minutes, UK)
'Oktapodi' review
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A fast moving story of octopus love dives right into the action when one of the octopi is removed from a tank, and the other follows in hot pursuit. Fun, but so quick that it's over before it begins. (3 minutes, France)
'La Maison en Petits Cubes' review
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A slow paced but increasingly poignant portrait of a man flashing back on his life after his village in France is flooded. It's the odd one out in terms of pacing and visuals, with its delicate hand drawn style, but the short's sweet sentimental surprises leave a lasting impression. (12 minutes, Japan)
The animated program runs 88 minutes and also includes the following "Commended Films": "Varmints" (24 min.), "John and Karen" (5 min.), "Gopher Broke" (4 min.), "Skhizein" (14 min.) and "Hot Dog" (6 min.).
